F1 Helmet Livery Changes Out for 2015

[Scott]

Its easy, each drivers helmet has to be painted as a replica of themselves with stick on hair so it will look like a bloke with a big head is driving the car. Entertaining and practical! 

Wouldn't that be hilarious   

[John S]

Its easy, each drivers helmet has to be painted as a replica of themselves with stick on hair so it will look like a bloke with a big head is driving the car. Entertaining and practical! 

Wouldn't that be hilarious   

 

Yeah real fun, I can go with that as well.   

Might need a fine mesh on the airboxes above their heads though
or all driver contracts will stipulate a No 1 razor cut. 

[Irisado]

As I'm typing this, I'm looking at a photo in the Gallery box at the left of the screen. I took the photo in the Museum at The Speedway. It's the memorial helmet that Ralf Schumacher wore in the 2001 U.S.G.P. That race was held just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. I'm reminded that such fine things would be banned under the new edict.

They could still make exceptions for tributes and expressions of support like that.  What the rule is designed to prevent is frequent helmet livery changes which have made rather a mockery of the flexibility which was previously allowed.  The drivers only have themselves to blame really.

[Jericoke]

As I'm typing this, I'm looking at a photo in the Gallery box at the left of the screen. I took the photo in the Museum at The Speedway. It's the memorial helmet that Ralf Schumacher wore in the 2001 U.S.G.P. That race was held just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. I'm reminded that such fine things would be banned under the new edict.

They could still make exceptions for tributes and expressions of support like that.  What the rule is designed to prevent is frequent helmet livery changes which have made rather a mockery of the flexibility which was previously allowed.  The drivers only have themselves to blame really.

There isn't some grand tradition of helmets in F1 dating back to Fangio or anything.  As far as I know, Jackie Stewart was one of the first drivers to have a 'distinctive' helmet.

Even amongst modern helmets, the only one I ever noticed was Hamilton's, with the famous story behind adopting yellow to be visible during his karting days. 

I assume the unwritten rule about keeping the same helmet design was mostly associated with economic issues.  Helmets were expensive, as was a professional paint job.  A driver might use the same helmet for years.  Now, with safety being such a huge part of F1, I'm not surprised if drivers use a fresh helmet every race.  There's no reason to keep the same design if it's not the same helmet.

[John S]

 

I assume the unwritten rule about keeping the same helmet design was mostly associated with economic issues.  Helmets were expensive, as was a professional paint job.  A driver might use the same helmet for years.  Now, with safety being such a huge part of F1, I'm not surprised if drivers use a fresh helmet every race.  There's no reason to keep the same design if it's not the same helmet.

Not sure it was just about money in the earlier years Jeri, I think it was more about personal identity, oh and possibly superstition in some cases - lucky pants or socks scenario.

I'm sure some drivers realised that most of the spectators weren't, and possibly still are not, clued up on the numbers of the cars in a race. For you to build a following you need to be easily identifiable and that's just what a fixed design or colour of helmet will bring.

The younger modern World seems to be in love with multiple choice on all occasions, the cost of this is nothing really stands out anymore - unless you become more and more outrageous or ruder.   

 

[lkjohnson1950]

If a driver put a nude on the top of his helmet and then couldn't change it, does that mean the broadcasters couldn't use his in car all season?

      

[John S]

If a driver put a nude on the top of his helmet and then couldn't change it, does that mean the broadcasters couldn't use his in car all season?

      

 

Nah, they should just make him paint it out and have the skin tone of the offending picture, pink, brown, olive or whatever all over the lid. 

[Alianora La Canta]

It costs only a little less to paint one design on 20-30 helmets (the amount F1 drivers generally have, due to so many being used by their teams for PR) as it does to have a different design on each one. The lack of separate designs in the olden days was more because the linen caps used in the early 1950s weren't intended for identification so much as to keep the wind out of drivers' hair. After all, drivers' faces were generally clue enough among the well-educated crowd who were the ones to worry about such things.

It was only when helmets became more enclosing (which was basically the Stewart era, hence he was one of the first to do it) that an alternative means of ID was needed. Race numbers weren't even associated with a driver for a whole season in some cases (let alone a F1 career as now), national colour codes and sponsors made it difficult to get namespace on the cars, and roll hoops weren't identified by colour, so the helmet was literally the only route available for identification. That was how this began.